A-Infos (en) FAQ for the APOC conference - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANARCHIST PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE

[komboa@juno.com]

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NOTE: Because a number of persons have written to us about the
conference, many with the same sorts of questions, we have
decided to create a FAQ to answer all the common questions. This
is based on the responses and discussion of a number of individuals
on the conference planning email list, and other places where these
matters have been discussed.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THIS CONFERENCE BEING HELD?
This conference is being set to begin on Friday, October 3rd  and to
go through Sunday, October 5th, 2003 inside the Student Activity
Bldg., Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.  A final brochure,
with directions, housing, food, and other information will be prepared
and sent to all who express an interest in attending.

WHY IS AN ANARCHIST PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE
BEING HELD?
Several hundred persons now call themselves Anarchist POC. It is
time we met, and more importantly, organized an autonomous
political tendency. This will be the first opportunity for APOC to
meet and express their concerns and ideas at a mass meeting of
other APOC, as well as the first chance to begin to build a united
movement.  We want to speak with our own voice and develop our
own understanding about those things such as racism, internal
colonialism, poverty, police murder and brutality, mass imprisonment
of “minority”/non-white youth, and other issues, which most
effect us. We also want to develop our own political theory about
what Anarchism means to us as peoples of color, who have been
dominated by a white political and cultural power historically.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND OUTCOME FOR SUCH AN
EVENT? The goals are to have serious discussions about the
issues effecting peoples of color, to bring together a network of
APOC activists, and for the assembled participants to lay the
foundations  to create an autonomous Anarchist People of Color
movement. As for the outcome of the conference itself, only the
conference participants can determine that, whether it is successful
or enjoyable, or if it degenerates into a “talk shop” where
nothing is accomplished, and mindless rhetoric is thrown about.  We
can only say that if you come with serious intent, show respect for
the views of others, and argue your points in the spirit of unity and
mutual respect, then we can accomplish a great deal.

ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO SPEAK FOR ALL ANARCHIST
PEOPLE OF COLOR?
No one organization, individual, or tendency can honestly claim to be
speaking for all APOC. We do not make such a claim. We are
asking those among the body of APOC interested in
community-based organizing, building a mass tendency, and meeting
other APOC activists, to come to this event where we can get to
work. We are inviting all APOC to come, in a spirit of unity and
reconciliation: let us put aside any past personal or political
differences, and seriously discuss how we can build a new
movement. That is why we are holding this conference.

WHAT CAN ANARCHISM OFFER TO COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR?
A  new ideology and methods of struggle against racism, poverty,
police brutality, and other issues affecting peoples of color. We add
ideals about building movements based on the masses of people
rather than charismatic leaders, and building a new kind of
radicalism  recognizing that the political government is not our
friend, nor is electoral activity a way  to obtain our freedom. We will
get our freedom and justice  in the streets when we stand up and
take back our communities from the white power structure. Finally,
we present a new method of uniting all peoples of color against the
common enemy, not just capitalism and the state, but white
supremacy/European domination in all its forms.


WHO ALL SHOULD COME TO THIS EVENT?  People who are
already self-identified as Anarchist POC, members of Anarchist and
anti-authoritarian organizations, young people interested in meeting
APOC movement veterans, community activists interested in
anti-authoritarian methods of organizing, and others in the
communities of color who would like to know more about Anarchism
and autonomous movements of color. Anyone interested in what we
have to say, whether they agree with us or not.

WHY ARE WHITE PEOPLE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE
APOC CONFERNCE?  This is our conference, and just like women,
gays or other autonomous groups, we decide whether or how to
allow others outside our tendency to participate. We believe it is
important to hold on our autonomy, as we discuss among ourselves
those issue which most effect us. For years, we have been generally
excluded from Anarchist movements and programs. However, we
realize that there are whites in the Anarchist and progressive scene
who are sympathetic to our cause But, we feel that we have the
absolute right to meet an plan an agenda of our own choosing around
our own interests, especially how we deal with racism, poverty,
racial profiling, police brutality, mass imprisonment of youth of color,
and other issues which most effect our community.

Historically, there have always been ethnic Anarchist tendencies in
the United States, whether Jewish, German, Italian, Russian, Polish,
or others in the 3rd world.  It should be no surprise that Africans in
America, Xicanoa, Boriquen (Puerto Ricans), and others would try
to build their own tendency.

White people, even fellow radicals, have yet to deal with their own
racism, within progressive political circles. We do not expect that
they can contribute anything at this time to our program. We do ask
for the material aid, mutual political support, solidarity, and deep and
honest understanding while we hold this conference and try to
create our movement.

HOW CAN YOU UNITE VARIOUS PEOPLES OF COLOR
WHEN THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF DISUNITY? It will not be
easy, we have been taught to hate and distrust each other, and we
have been played against each other by the government,
corporations, white radicals, and others among our own peoples for
their own opportunistic reasons. We do have important differences,
but even more important commonalities. We can unite around the
principles of Anarchism, and the autonomous ideals of unity and
sovereignty. We recognize that we are all an oppressed people in a
racist society, that we are colonial subjects of an oppressive power,
and class victims of an exploitative capitalist society. We will not
always agree, as no one family can always agree, but as long as
those differences are honest among us, we can agree on what we
can and move forward, just as our enemies have always united
against us. So we can unite, if we have a true spirit of unity,  and we
can build a movement which will reshape all of
   our own destinies and those of our peoples.  The real issue is if we
are ready for revolution, to put aside our differences, and come
together to totally change this system and the world. We have much
in common, and cannot allow ourselves to be divided any longer.

WHO WILL SPEAK AT THIS EVENT?  The speaker’s list is
still being prepared, and will be issued with the final conference
packet, if you are interested in being a speaker or wish to suggest a
speaker, please write to the acting co-facilitator, Lorenzo Komboa
Ervin, at Komboa@hotmail.com

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO ATTEND?  There will be a $10
admission fee for individuals, and a $20 admission fee for
organizational representatives. This money will cover food,
materials, and other expenses to put on the conference. If you do not
have any money, but arrive at the door, no one will be turned away
because they do not have resources to pay. We only ask that you
honestly tell us your situation, we do not have a scholarship fund to
pay anyone’s way.

WILL FOOD BE PROVIDED?  When you pay for your admission,
you will pay for food and other costs for the event. You will be
asked if you are vegetarian or eat meat, and then given a meal
ticket.  We do not know for sure at this time, but Detroit Food Not
Bombs has given some indication of voluntarily serving several
vegan meals, other folks can also eat at local restaurants which are
vegan or “regular” fare.

WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING? We are
trying to get housing in one or more Detroit neighborhoods for those
people coming in from out of town. A number of people have
volunteered to let conference participants use their houses. This is
still being finalized, but in addition to this free housing, people
coming to Detroit are welcome to use local motels and hotels which
we will recommend and list in the final conference packet.
As for Transportation, we are attempting to raise funds so that we
can rent some vans which can be used to take people directly to the
conference site each day. We need money for this, so if you would
like to donate funds for this please send your money to: APOC
Conference Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 19962, Kalamazoo, MI.
49006.

WHAT WILL THIS CONFERENCE OFFER TO PEOPLE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH ANARCHIST THEORY?  We welcome
everyone to this conference, regardless of whether or not they
understand Anarchist theory, or self identify as an Anarchist. As
Anarchist peoples of color, part of our task has to be educating the
people in our own communities as to what Anarchism stands for.
Therefore, throughout the conference, we will have an orientation
program, called “Anarchism 101”, to teach the fundamentals
of Anarchism and autonomist ideals to anyone who is interested.

WHAT KIND OF CONFERENCES ARE BEING HELD AT THIS
CONFERENCE?  So far, we have confirmed workshops on police
brutality, prison, Xiccano activism, Black Autonomy, Anarchism
101,  and other issues. Not all workshops have been registered yet,
and some will be “guerrilla” workshops, which will be held on
the days of the event. If you would like to do a workshop, please
contact JoNina1.1@juno.com, and Komboa@Juno.com with details
about the name and subject of the workshop, the facilitator of it, the
length, time, and day of the event.

CAN I PRESENT A PROPOSAL AT THE CONFERENCE?  Yes,
but all proposals will have to be in writing, signed by the person or
group who presents it, with copies given to all in attendance or to
the program committee who will read it to the assembled conference
participants. We will try to deal with all proposals, and are preparing
rules now.

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER FOR A CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE? There are committees to put on this conference
which have not been filled, such as conference Security and
Registration Committee, Food and Transportation, Childcare,
medical, etc., please send email to: Program Committee,
JoNina1.1@juno.com, or Komboa@Juno.com  You must be an
APOC conference participant to join these committees.

I AM NOT ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE, BUT I WOULD
LIKE TO VOLUNTEER.  Anyone, [not just APOC] can volunteer to
support the conference. You can do anything to make the
conference happen. Hold a pre-conference benefit concert, start an
online email list of others who want to volunteer, solicit persons and
groups who belong to or know of to donate money, equipment, or
volunteer time. Please contact Jason at Mitten@ziplip.net, of the
Detroit APOC Support Group and/or Komboa@hotmail.com if you
would like to volunteer. Thank you!

DO YOU HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND?  We do not have such
a pool of money to defray the travel and admission costs of
conference participants, and we are therefore asking local groups or
individuals to get a local Anarchist group, union, or other groups to
raise money and send a delegate or group from their areas. We feel
that this will be more effective than our raising the funds and then
sending the funds to those who might want to attend.

DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE?  Yes. We have a weblog (blog)
where information about the conference will appear, and be updated.
Go to http://www.Anarchist-POC-conference.blogspot.com, where
this FAQ, the conference flyer and other materials will appear.

I CANNOT ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, BUT WOULD LIKE
TO DONATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT ITS WORK.  Please send a
check, cash or money order to: APOC Conference, c/o BANCO,
P.O. Box 19962, Kalamazoo, MI. 49006.

DO YOU HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER YET?  No, we are still in the
process of organizing this event. A final agenda will go out when it
it’s finished. We will send it by email or regular mail to all
interested parties.

[NOTE: We will post other questions if we thing they are issues
that a number of persons would be interested in.]



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